ANN ARBOR – In the past two weeks, Michigan has seen all of its goals go up in smoke, its rushing attack lose 69 yards and its fan base basically boo it off the field at home.

It’s been a rough 14 days for the Wolverine football program.

Michigan’s Big Ten title dreams are dead, its goal now is to win out and try to grab 10 wins. But more than that, the Wolverines have got to start finding a way to ease the pressure they’ve created for themselves inside this cauldron that is Michigan football.

And with the natives restless, they’d better do it fast.

“I’ve been here before, I was here when coach (Rich Rodriguez) was here, people were booing all the time,” Michigan senior defensive tackle Jibreel Black said. “It’s fans. They want to see certain things, and when they don’t see them, they’re not satisfied.

“That’s understandable.”

Up next for Michigan (6-3, 2-3) is a trip to Northwestern (4-5, 0-5), a battle of arguably the two most disappointing Big Ten teams this season.

This game was supposed to be one that helped decided the Big Ten Legends Division title.

Instead, it’s a battle of ego-bruised programs who are just desperately searching for answers.

Desperately searching for anything to kick-start or salvage what’s left of the 2013 season.

“We need to make sure we’re finishing and doing all the things we need to do,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said. “As a coaching staff, that’s where it starts. It starts with me.

“We started this thing in January with this football team. In June we inherited the freshmen guys. Their work ethic has been exceptional. We just have to translate what we do well in practice on to the field. And we will.”

This wasn’t supposed to be this way, of course.

Northwestern was supposed to be an explosive offensive club led by Kain Colter, Trevor Siemian and Venric Mark.

Well, Siemian has only thrown 7 touchdown passes, Colter has battled injury and Mark is out for the season.

For Michigan, this was supposed to be an explosive offense led by a more seasoned Devin Gardner and a rushing attack that some believed would be sparked by a more talented offensive line.

Gardner is beat up. Michigan’s offensive line isn’t good. And its running backs are nowhere to be found.